Rocky Mountain Autumn Aspens

Watercolor Lesson

 

Below are detailed instructions and pictures to complete an exciting aspen watercolor painting.

Supplies needed

8  round watercolor brush, must come to a point (for doing detail)

 

300 pound cold pressed watercolor paper (we are using Arches here). This wonderful paper will not curl as you work. It is usually available in large sheets. You can break it by bending it back and forth. Although your painting can be any size, we suggest that you limit it to a size that easily fits into a precut mat and frame. Saves lots on money.

 

Palette with individual compartments.

 

Tube Paints:   Student quality works okay. You will need yellow, red, blue, orange, purple, green. Please stay away from blacks, whites and grays.  We are using Windsor and Newton, professional quality watercolors in the tube which include Alizarin Crimson, Perylene Maroon, Aureolin, Hooker's Green, Cerulean Blue, Cobalt Blue, Windsor Violet, Indian Yellow and French Ultra Marine.. All these colors are transparent (except for the Cerulean Blue).

 

Masking liquid: Frisket or Maskit are names for this resist product. It is available in art or hobby stores.

 

Masking tape, scissors, water and water containers, rag, pencil, eraser. tissue, and squirt bottle.

 

Optional: blow dryer

 

 

Prepare your paper with household masking tape by covering the areas where the aspens will be. Keep in mind that the trees are smaller as they are farther away. You can cut the tape lengthwise. Curve it to give shape to the aspens. Also, the bottoms of the trees move higher in the picture as they go deeper in the woods.  Don't place the trees higher than 1/2 way up the paper.   Leave room between some and overlap some. We try to create an area where the viewer would want to go and sit. It is called the "Secret Place". Take the tape all the way off the top of the paper. You can fold it over the back or just trim it with scissors.

 

This picture was taken with a blur light to help you see the details of the tape on the paper....it is somewhat hard to see.

 

Using a tooth pick or some other small pointy object, paint branches on your trees with the masking liquid. DO NOT USE YOUR BRUSH. This will ruin it. Let this completely dry before beginning the next step

 

In your palette squirt paint about the size of a green pea. Add about 1/4 tsp water. Mix it with the top of your brush (not the bristles themselves as the paint will stick to them). Do this with all your paints.

 

 

Top 1/3: Wet the top 1/3 of your paper with water.  Hold your paper at the bottom at an angle so the water runs off the top of your paper.  Add light blue paint. You can create clouds by removing some paint with a tissue. Paint right over the making tape and the dry masking fluid. You may add touches of dark blue if you like.  The sky does not have to be completely dry before you go to the next step.

     

 

Bottom 1/3. For the leaves on the ground we start with the lightest color and move to the darkest. Use warm/hot colors here...yellows, oranges and reds. Wet the area and add paint and watch it mingle.  If you stir the paint it may turn to mud. You can wait for each color to dry in some spots (this layering effect is called "glazing"). In other areas just put the next color right on top of the first while still wet (this technique is called "wet on wet"). If you are using transparent watercolors you can put 10 layers on if you let them each dry. You may paint some individual leaves when all is dry. Let this bottom 1/3 dry.  Let your paint dry before moving on to the next section. (You may use a blow dryer)

        

 

Middle 1/3. This is the deeper forest. Choose cooler colors here such as greens, blues, purples and some reds. Use the same techniques as the leaves on the ground.

 

 

 After all is dry,  carefully remove the masking tape, then  use your eraser to remove the masking fluid.  

 

 

Trunks: With your paper turned to the side and at an angle (put your tissue box under the top of the paper), lay in the shadows on each tree trunk. Lori uses all different colors. The trunks are a bit like mirrors. They pick up the hues around them. The paint will all run to one side. Keep your light source the same throughout the painting. Decide where the sun is coming from and stick with it. The trees deeper in the forest can be all shaded. Use tissue to catch any paint that runs off of the trunks.  Paint leaves over the bottom of the trunks by dotting on the surrounding colors.

 

 

Branches: When that is dry turn your paper back upright a put it at an angle again. Now shade all your little branches on the bottom side.

    

 

Tree Notches: With your pencil, draw in little notches here and there.

 

 

Let your artwork dry, mat then sign.

 

We would love for you to complete this project and either scan or take a digital photo and send it to us. It would be our honor to post it here on our lesson page!!!  Please include your name, age and where you live.  Email it to lori@greatcompany.org